Genesis 49:2
Genesis 49:2 in Multiple Translations
Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.
Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father.
Come near, O sons of Jacob, and give ear to the words of Israel your father.
Come here, sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father.
Gather your selues together, and heare, ye sonnes of Iaakob, and hearken vnto Israel your father.
'Be assembled, and hear, sons of Jacob, And hearken unto Israel your father.
Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.
Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob: and hearken to Israel your father.
Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel your father:
“Gather around me in order that I can tell you what will happen in the future. My sons, come and listen to me. I am your father, Jacob, whom God named Israel.
Come near to me, my sons. I am your father Jacob, and my other name is Israel. Listen to me.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 49:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 49:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הִקָּבְצ֥וּ
וְ/שִׁמְע֖וּ
בְּנֵ֣י
יַעֲקֹ֑ב
וְ/שִׁמְע֖וּ
אֶל
יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל
אֲבִי/כֶֽם
הִקָּבְצ֥וּ
qâbats
H6908
to gather
V-Niphal-Impv-2mp
וְ/שִׁמְע֖וּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp
בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
son
N-mp
יַעֲקֹ֑ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
N-proper
וְ/שִׁמְע֖וּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep
יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
N-proper
אֲבִי/כֶֽם
ʼâb
H1
father
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 49:2
הִקָּבְצ֥וּ
qâbats
H6908
"to gather"
V-Niphal-Impv-2mp
To gather or collect people or things, like when the Israelites assembled in the book of Numbers. It's about bringing things or people together in one place.
Definition: 1) to gather, assemble 1a) (Qal) to gather, collect, assemble 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to assemble, gather 1b2) to be gathered 1c) (Piel) to gather, gather together, take away 1d) (Pual) to be gathered together 1e) (Hithpael) to gather together, be gathered together
Usage: Occurs in 121 OT verses. KJV: assemble (selves), gather (bring) (together, selves together, up), heap, resort, [idiom] surely, take up. See also: Genesis 41:35; Proverbs 28:8; Psalms 41:7.
וְ/שִׁמְע֖וּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
יַעֲקֹ֑ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
וְ/שִׁמְע֖וּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
אֲבִי/כֶֽם
ʼâb
H1
"father"
N-ms | Suff
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Definition: 1) father of an individual 2) of God as father of his people 3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan 4) ancestor 4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person 4b) of people 5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art 6) of producer, generator (fig.) 7) of benevolence and protection (fig.) 8) term of respect and honour 9) ruler or chief (spec.) Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
Usage: Occurs in 1060 OT verses. KJV: chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. See also: Genesis 2:24; Genesis 42:37; Leviticus 19:3.
Study Notes — Genesis 49:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Jacob Blesses His Sons
1Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:
2Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.
3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. 4Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 34:11 | Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. |
| 2 | Proverbs 7:1 | My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. |
| 3 | Proverbs 23:22 | Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. |
| 4 | Proverbs 4:1–4 | Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive. When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live. |
| 5 | Proverbs 1:8–9 | Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck. |
| 6 | Proverbs 5:1 | My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight, |
| 7 | Proverbs 6:20 | My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. |
| 8 | Proverbs 8:32 | Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. |
| 9 | Proverbs 23:26 | My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways. |
| 10 | Proverbs 7:24 | Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth. |
Genesis 49:2 Summary
[In Genesis 49:2, Jacob calls his sons to gather around him so he can share with them what will happen to each of them in the days to come. This is a special moment where Jacob, also known as Israel, gets to pass on his wisdom and blessings to his children, just like his father Isaac did to him (Genesis 27:1-40). As we read this verse, we can remember the importance of sharing our own faith and experiences with our loved ones, and seeking to pass on a spiritual heritage to the next generation (Psalm 127:3-5). By doing so, we can follow Jacob's example and fulfill our own God-given purpose.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Jacob call his sons to gather around him in Genesis 49:2?
Jacob calls his sons to gather around him so he can share with them what will happen to each of them in the days to come, as stated in Genesis 49:1, and this is a significant moment as he is about to bless them and prophesy over their lives, as seen in Genesis 49:3-4 and other verses in the chapter.
What is the significance of Jacob being referred to as 'Israel' in this verse?
Jacob being referred to as 'Israel' in Genesis 49:2 is a reminder of his encounter with God in Genesis 32:22-33, where he wrestled with God and was given the name Israel, meaning 'he who struggles with God', and this name represents his new identity and covenant relationship with God.
How does this verse relate to the idea of family and legacy in the Bible?
This verse highlights the importance of family and legacy in the Bible, as Jacob is passing on his blessings and prophetic words to his sons, just as Isaac did to him in Genesis 27:1-40, and this theme is repeated throughout the Bible, such as in Psalm 127:3-5, where children are seen as a heritage from the Lord.
What can we learn from Jacob's example of gathering his sons to share his wisdom and experience?
We can learn the importance of sharing our wisdom, experience, and faith with our own family and loved ones, just as Jacob does in Genesis 49:2, and this is reinforced in other verses such as Deuteronomy 4:9-10 and Psalm 78:1-8, where the importance of passing on spiritual heritage to the next generation is emphasized.
Reflection Questions
- What are some significant moments in your life when you have gathered with loved ones to share important news or wisdom, and what can you learn from those experiences?
- How can you apply the principle of passing on spiritual heritage to your own family or community, and what steps can you take to start doing this?
- What are some blessings or prophetic words that have been spoken over your life, and how can you continue to live into those words and fulfill your God-given purpose?
- In what ways can you seek to honor your own family legacy and spiritual heritage, while also forging a new path and following God's leading in your life?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 49:2
Gather yourselves together,.... This is repeated to hasten them, and to suggest that he had something of importance to make known unto them, which he chose to do, when they were together: and hear,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 49:2
Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 49:2
Genesis 49:2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.Ver. 2. Hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken.] Draw up the ears of your souls to the ears of your bodies, that one sound may pierce both at once. "Let him that hath an ear to hear, hear": not only with that outward gristle that grows upon his head, but with his utmost intention of mind, attention of body, and retention of memory, and of practice also, He that hears the word of God, must hear as ff he did, for so he doth, hear for life and death; he must, as Jacob bids his sons, "hear and hearken."
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 49:2
2. Assemble yourselves] This verse forms a kind of introduction to the main subject of the song. and hear] The occurrence of the same Hebrew word for “hear” in the first clause, and for “hearken” in the second, is metrically a violation of the parallelism of Hebrew poetry. In English it is not apparent, as our rendering “hearken” avoids the repetition. Either “and hear” is a gloss, or another Hebrew word stood for “hearken.” Cf. Deuteronomy 32:1; Isaiah 1:10. Jacob … Israel] The use of these proper names concurrently is frequent in Israelite poetry. Here it is evidence of the somewhat formal poetical prelude to the main song. Cf. Psalms 105:23. The names emphasize the national character of the oracle, which is put into the mouth of the patriarch, and has reference to the fortunes of the twelve tribes.
Sermons on Genesis 49:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Genesis) Genesis 49:2-5 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Genesis 49:2 and the dramatic scene of Jacob, the old man, sitting up in bed leaning on his staff. The speaker reflects on the inconvenience |
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(A Marriage Blessed by God) 1. Build Your Home With Wisdom by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of building godly marriages and homes by focusing on the fear of the Lord, wisdom, and self-control. It highlights the need to prioritize reve |
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Learning the Fear of God (Telugu) by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of fearing God and turning away from sin, drawing insights from the book of Job as the first book written by God in the Bible. It highlights t |
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Testimony by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker shares three significant experiences from their life story. The first experience was when they were saved by God during an open-air meeting. Although th |
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Peter the Teacher by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the idea of loving life and seeing good days. He emphasizes that many people in the world may have good days, but they do not truly love lif |
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Two Types of Fear by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of the fear of God, contrasting it with earthly fears and the need to maintain a healthy fear of God in our lives. It highlights biblical exam |
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Defiling the Temple of God by Phil Beach Jr. | Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the critical issue of defiling the temple of God, which he clarifies is not about physical buildings but about the hearts of believers. He reflects on Pro |